For more than four years, the Austin Jazz Alliance has served as a grassroots organization to help jazz musicians in Austin and Central Texas promote their music. Since its creation in 2009, it has become dedicated to celebrating jazz music and bringing together jazz musicians, jazz fans, and jazz related businesses. To further celebrate the contributions of jazz musicians across the state, The Austin Jazz Alliance and PEEKS Cruises & Tours have joined forces to organize the first ever Texas Jazz Jam This luxury cruise, which sets sail from Galveston, Texas on October 5th, 2014 and runs through October 12th, 2014 will allow jazz musicians and fans to enjoy a beautiful vacation on the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas, while enjoying some of the finest music Texas has to offer. A portion of the proceeds will go to support the mission of several jazz organizations, including The Austin Jazz Society, Women in Jazz, and the Austin Traditional Jazz Society.
To launch this unique and exciting event, the Austin Jazz Alliance will celebrate with a kick-off party at SoundCheck Austin (1501 E. 51st Street, Austin, TX, 78723) on February 22nd from 1pm to 5pm. The party will include complimentary hors d’oeuvres and feature performances from members of the Texas Jam House Band, including Paul Klemperer, Evan Arredondo, and Wayne Duncan. The event will also give attendees a chance to network and learn more about the cruise. In addition to hearing members of the Texas Jam House Band, fans will be treated to special guests including Dr. James Polk, the recipient of the 2013 Jazz Journalists Association and AJA’s Jazz Hero Award. Fender Musical Instrument Corporation and Gretsch Drums have come aboard as the official musical instrument/backline provider and sponsor and will be represented by Jeff Van Zandt, manager of the Fender Artist Relations office in Austin, Texas. Fender’s new re-issue, of the ’68 Silverface Twin Reverb will be given away to one lucky attendee during the cruise!
The brainchild of founder Fito Kahn, the Texas Jazz Jam Cruise gives jazz musicians an opportunity to take a vacation while playing with some of the most gifted musicians the state has to offer. Musicians will be encouraged to bring their instruments to jam along with the house band and hone their skills and even take in a workshop or two. Jazz fans will be treated to a trip on a beautiful ship and will also be able to sign up for the workshop of their choice, including “Jazz 101” and “The History of Jazz.” All guests will be able to enjoy the sounds of some of Texas’s finest jazz as they cruise to Roatan, Honduras, Belize City, Belize, and Cozumel, Mexico aboard the majestic Royal Caribbean’s Luxury cruise ship.
Press Release Submit by Gina Sigillito